Looking for a PDF library/utility to create and print invoices
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I am wondering if anyone can help advise on the following: In my work we are looking to use a PDF file format for our invoices. The invoices will have a logo, lines and text on them and may contain colour too. In summary we are looking for a library or utility that will integrate with .Net that will allow us to: (1)Create a PDF file and populate it with images and text. (2)Print a PDF file. The solution can be open source but we need to retain the intellectual property on the code we write(the code we write will not be available to anyone else). We are willing to pay for the libraries/utility. I am about to embark on looking at iText[^] and thought I would get advice from CP members as early on as possible in the process. Any pointers appreciated.
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
Well, if you are going to integrate with .NET, why not go with the .NET version of iText called iTextSharp[^]?
Chill _Maxxx_
CodeStash - Online Snippet Management | My blog | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier -
I am wondering if anyone can help advise on the following: In my work we are looking to use a PDF file format for our invoices. The invoices will have a logo, lines and text on them and may contain colour too. In summary we are looking for a library or utility that will integrate with .Net that will allow us to: (1)Create a PDF file and populate it with images and text. (2)Print a PDF file. The solution can be open source but we need to retain the intellectual property on the code we write(the code we write will not be available to anyone else). We are willing to pay for the libraries/utility. I am about to embark on looking at iText[^] and thought I would get advice from CP members as early on as possible in the process. Any pointers appreciated.
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
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Thanks - we are looking into the cost of the license at the moment, for iText, as whatever we will be using we will not be making our code open source, which as you mention requires the purchasing of the commercial iText license.
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
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Thanks - we are looking into the cost of the license at the moment, for iText, as whatever we will be using we will not be making our code open source, which as you mention requires the purchasing of the commercial iText license.
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
I don't know anything about IText and what features you require, but about 6 years ago I used Siberix ReportWriter[^] to generate pdfs. At that time, it was the lowest cost solution that had no licensing restrictions. It was fairly simple to use in .Net. I noticed did that the price has gone up a fair amount, but that could be an indication that the market thinks it is worth it. It looks like they still let you download and try before buying. The free version watermarked the PDF, but was fully functional. It may be worth looking at.
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I am wondering if anyone can help advise on the following: In my work we are looking to use a PDF file format for our invoices. The invoices will have a logo, lines and text on them and may contain colour too. In summary we are looking for a library or utility that will integrate with .Net that will allow us to: (1)Create a PDF file and populate it with images and text. (2)Print a PDF file. The solution can be open source but we need to retain the intellectual property on the code we write(the code we write will not be available to anyone else). We are willing to pay for the libraries/utility. I am about to embark on looking at iText[^] and thought I would get advice from CP members as early on as possible in the process. Any pointers appreciated.
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
Have you checked out what is possible using .NET to inter-operate with Acrobat: [^]: "Interapplication Communication Acrobat provides support for interapplication communication (IAC) through OLE automation and DDE on Windows, and through Apple events and AppleScript on Mac OS. Adobe Reader also supports IAC, but does not support OLE on Windows. IAC support allows programs to control Acrobat or Adobe Reader in much the same way a user would. You can also use IAC support to render a PDF file into an external application window instead of the Acrobat window. The IAC methods and events serve as wrappers for some of the core API calls in the SDK. On Windows, you can develop IAC applications using Visual Basic .NET, Visual C++ .NET, or Visual C# .NET. On Mac OS, you develop IAC applications using Xcode. CodeWarrior is not supported." Adobe has several forums for Acrobat: [^]; this forum is for programmers using the SDK: [^]; this forum specifically deals with "Forms:" [^]. I have done some PhotoShop CS6 scripting from WinForms C#, and it is not difficult. But, I am not sure if Acrobat could be used to meet your needs here. bill (former Adobe employee many years ago, in the late stone-age, one of three people who invented Acrobat)
Google CEO, Erich Schmidt: "I keep asking for a product called Serendipity. This product would have access to everything ever written or recorded, know everything the user ever worked on and saved to his or her personal hard drive, and know a whole lot about the user's tastes, friends and predilections." 2004, USA Today interview
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Have you checked out what is possible using .NET to inter-operate with Acrobat: [^]: "Interapplication Communication Acrobat provides support for interapplication communication (IAC) through OLE automation and DDE on Windows, and through Apple events and AppleScript on Mac OS. Adobe Reader also supports IAC, but does not support OLE on Windows. IAC support allows programs to control Acrobat or Adobe Reader in much the same way a user would. You can also use IAC support to render a PDF file into an external application window instead of the Acrobat window. The IAC methods and events serve as wrappers for some of the core API calls in the SDK. On Windows, you can develop IAC applications using Visual Basic .NET, Visual C++ .NET, or Visual C# .NET. On Mac OS, you develop IAC applications using Xcode. CodeWarrior is not supported." Adobe has several forums for Acrobat: [^]; this forum is for programmers using the SDK: [^]; this forum specifically deals with "Forms:" [^]. I have done some PhotoShop CS6 scripting from WinForms C#, and it is not difficult. But, I am not sure if Acrobat could be used to meet your needs here. bill (former Adobe employee many years ago, in the late stone-age, one of three people who invented Acrobat)
Google CEO, Erich Schmidt: "I keep asking for a product called Serendipity. This product would have access to everything ever written or recorded, know everything the user ever worked on and saved to his or her personal hard drive, and know a whole lot about the user's tastes, friends and predilections." 2004, USA Today interview
Thanks Bill :thumbsup:, I will look into this. So far my printing solution is to use a command line to Acrobat - which I am not completely happy with as the command line printing option, within Acrobat, could be switched off at some point in the future.
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
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I am wondering if anyone can help advise on the following: In my work we are looking to use a PDF file format for our invoices. The invoices will have a logo, lines and text on them and may contain colour too. In summary we are looking for a library or utility that will integrate with .Net that will allow us to: (1)Create a PDF file and populate it with images and text. (2)Print a PDF file. The solution can be open source but we need to retain the intellectual property on the code we write(the code we write will not be available to anyone else). We are willing to pay for the libraries/utility. I am about to embark on looking at iText[^] and thought I would get advice from CP members as early on as possible in the process. Any pointers appreciated.
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
I may be missing something but why can't you use reporting services in a local mode RDLC. You can generate the report for printing and export the report to PDF all in code without requiring the server installation.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
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I may be missing something but why can't you use reporting services in a local mode RDLC. You can generate the report for printing and export the report to PDF all in code without requiring the server installation.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
What you may be missing is that I didn't explain that I have been given clear instructions not to use SSRS so this is the only option left.
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
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What you may be missing is that I didn't explain that I have been given clear instructions not to use SSRS so this is the only option left.
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
Ah missed that - presumably that edit applies to any reporting tool. You have a difficult client!
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
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Ah missed that - presumably that edit applies to any reporting tool. You have a difficult client!
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
Unfortunately not the client, the team lead. I have already written a reporting tool in .Net which does work fairly well for reports that do not require headers etc - it uses reflection from SQL Server stored procedures to build an interface to enable the user to set the parameters for the report. For this PDF report I am having to write another tool to include headers and footers etc - in some ways it is fun as I am learning quite a lot in the process and it does challenge me too.
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
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I am wondering if anyone can help advise on the following: In my work we are looking to use a PDF file format for our invoices. The invoices will have a logo, lines and text on them and may contain colour too. In summary we are looking for a library or utility that will integrate with .Net that will allow us to: (1)Create a PDF file and populate it with images and text. (2)Print a PDF file. The solution can be open source but we need to retain the intellectual property on the code we write(the code we write will not be available to anyone else). We are willing to pay for the libraries/utility. I am about to embark on looking at iText[^] and thought I would get advice from CP members as early on as possible in the process. Any pointers appreciated.
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
I would second iTextSharp, but purchase a copy of the iText book (its mainly java, but gives some insight) The other option, since you seemed to have a report writer already ?, is to see if there's a PDF printer driver with an API (to take care of the "print to' specs) .. that way you're not tightly coupled to PDF 'g'
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I am wondering if anyone can help advise on the following: In my work we are looking to use a PDF file format for our invoices. The invoices will have a logo, lines and text on them and may contain colour too. In summary we are looking for a library or utility that will integrate with .Net that will allow us to: (1)Create a PDF file and populate it with images and text. (2)Print a PDF file. The solution can be open source but we need to retain the intellectual property on the code we write(the code we write will not be available to anyone else). We are willing to pay for the libraries/utility. I am about to embark on looking at iText[^] and thought I would get advice from CP members as early on as possible in the process. Any pointers appreciated.
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
User cryastal Report and Export in to PDF Format. Design your Receipt format into Crystal Report and integrate with your project. :-O
Bheem Sen Singh [Software Developer Web Designer, Database Designer]
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I am wondering if anyone can help advise on the following: In my work we are looking to use a PDF file format for our invoices. The invoices will have a logo, lines and text on them and may contain colour too. In summary we are looking for a library or utility that will integrate with .Net that will allow us to: (1)Create a PDF file and populate it with images and text. (2)Print a PDF file. The solution can be open source but we need to retain the intellectual property on the code we write(the code we write will not be available to anyone else). We are willing to pay for the libraries/utility. I am about to embark on looking at iText[^] and thought I would get advice from CP members as early on as possible in the process. Any pointers appreciated.
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens